Many nursing homes provide their residents with a high level of quality care, as guaranteed by law under the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. However, some facilities fail to abide by these legal guidelines, leaving residents vulnerable to the detrimental effects of neglect and abuse. Many residents struggle to provide even the most basic care for themselves, such as eating and drinking and must rely on the help of professionals to complete these tasks. Without their assistance, residents may suffer injuries or illnesses that can affect their overall health and well-being.
If you or a loved one suffered a medical injury or lost their life as the result of negligence in a nursing home, a Fort Worth malnutrition lawyer can help you hold the facility accountable for the harm they caused. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336 to talk to our legal team about taking the next step in your nursing home abuse case.
Malnutrition in Nursing Homes
When nursing home staff neglects residents, they fail to provide for their needs sufficiently to avoid harm or pain. In some instances of neglect, residents suffer from malnutrition as a result of the facility’s failure to provide balanced meals and snacks or assistance eating.
According to a study published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, about one in five nursing home residents in facilities studied suffered from malnutrition. Researchers note that in certain nursing homes, more than 65% of residents did not receive adequate nutrition.
Effects of Malnutrition on Older People
The Mayo Clinic describes the dangers of malnutrition among older people, which can lead to a range of health problems. Some of the common effects of malnutrition include:
- A weakened immune system
- Higher risk of developing infections
- Prolonged illnesses
- Poor wound healing
- Muscle weakness
- Decreased bone mass
- An increased risk of hospitalization and death
Nursing home residents have a higher chance of suffering from malnutrition due to one or more factors that play a significant role in an individual’s susceptibility. Risk factors such as illness, dementia, physical impairment, and depression can make it difficult for older people to sustain nutrition without assistance.
If malnutrition in a nursing home caused your illness, injury, or the loss of a family member, the attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will fight for fair compensation for you. Contact us anytime to get started on your free case evaluation with our legal team.
For a free legal consultation with a Malnutrition Lawyer serving Worth, call (800) 794-0444
Recognizing the Signs of Malnutrition
Because malnutrition simply refers to a lack of nutrients, anyone can suffer from the condition regardless of their size. Although weight loss often becomes a sign, not all malnourished adults appear underweight. Other signs of malnutrition may include:
- Weakness or fatigue
- Feeling irritable or depressed
- A distended stomach
- Dry hair and skin
- Difficulty concentrating
- Getting sick more often or not recovering well
A lawyer can help you determine if you have a case against the nursing home that caused your malnutrition or the malnourishment of your loved one.
Worth Malnutrition Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
A Fort Worth Malnutrition Lawyer Can Gather Evidence to Help Your Case
Documents, statements, and other types of evidence from the nursing home can help build your case by proving the negligence of the facility. Evidence they may use to establish liability include:
- Resident charts and care plans
- Nursing home staffing charts and schedules
- Medical records
- Security video footage
- Photos demonstrating the resident’s decline in condition
- Statements from eyewitnesses
Your lawyer can use this information to demonstrate that despite having a responsibility to keep you or your loved one safe and healthy, the facility breached its duty of care, which resulted in your injuries or loss and the damages that resulted.
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Financial Awards for Your Nursing Home Malnutrition Claim
You may have the option to file a claim against the nursing home for your damages depending on the details of your case. Types of financial awards you may receive include recovery for your medical and nursing home bills, as well as funeral and burial expenses if you lost a spouse, parent, or another family member.
Some claimants also qualify for pain and suffering damages, such as mental anguish or loss of consortium. A Fort Worth malnutrition lawyer can assess your losses and help you achieve just compensation for your claim.
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Statutes of Limitations on Nursing Home Claims
Every state has its own statute of limitations, or legal time limit, during which a person can file a claim for their injuries or a loved one’s death.
Under the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003, victims of nursing home abuse can typically file personal injury claims for up to two years following the date the neglect began. Similarly, certain family members of victims who lost their lives due to complications from nursing home malnutrition have up to two years to file a wrongful death suit against the liable party in their case in accordance with Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §71.001.
Exceptions may apply in certain cases, and a lawyer can calculate how much time you have left to file your claim and help you move forward with your case as soon as possible.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today for Legal Assistance
Despite the responsibility of nursing home staff to provide quality, balanced nutrition to all residents, many suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to serious medical issues. If nursing home neglect caused you to experience the dangerous effects of malnourishment or lose a loved one to its complications, the lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will guide you through the claims process and pursue compensation on your behalf. Call our legal team today at (800) 842-6336 to speak about your nursing home abuse case.
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